Surface-modification effects induced by yttrium implantation on pure iron and various steels

Pure iron and various steel samples were yttrium implanted using the ion-implantation technique. Sample compositions and structures were investigated before and after yttrium implantation to determine the yttrium distributions and the main compounds formed after the ion implantation. Yttrium-implantation effects were characterized using analytical and structural techniques such as Rutherford backscattering spectrometry RBS., reflection high energy electron diffraction RHEED., X-ray diffraction XRD.and glancing angle X-ray diffraction GAXRD.. This paper shows that correlation between composition and structural analyses allows understanding and comparison of the surface-modification effects of implanting yttrium into pure iron and various steels before high-temperature oxidation study. q2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.